Motion (Sequel to "Collide")

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

May 1st, 1993

Dear Diary,

I can't help but smile like an idiot as I just read my previous words, the ones I wrote on my wedding day, almost a month ago. Times flies, but my happiness is still intact. We've been in Barbados for a couple of weeks now, for our honeymoon. Michael kept the surprise until we set foot here, and ever since that moment it has been nothing but heaven on Earth. We visited children in hospitals, rode jet skis to some private island where we spent the night and we even went paragliding. I never thought I'd be brave enough to do that, but I was and it was amazing.

But sadly, all good things come to an end, as today's our last day on this magnificent island. Even though I am disappointed it is over already, I can't wait to see my son. Latoya offered to keep an eye on him while we were gone, and she stayed over Neverland with him and the nanny. We didn't miss a chance to call him every chance we got, and even though he misses us, he was happy to go to school and learn a bunch of new things. This never fails to make me smile, as he is probably as curious as his father is.

"Mrs. Jackson?" I heard a voice call, and I looked down at the hotel employee who was giving me a pedicure. "I am done. What do you think?"

"It's great," I smiled down at my feet that now had red nail polish on them as I closed my journal. "Thank you. It's perfect."

"You're welcome, ma'am. Can I do anything else for you?"

"You've done plenty already," I told her with a small smile. "I'm just going to enjoy the waves before Michael comes home."

"Oh, do you surf?"

"I do, yes," I chuckled, as I stood up from my chair. "My dad taught me when I was younger, but then I decided to go to med school and well... I didn't have much time to surf anymore," I snorted, shaking my head. "But seeing those huge waves made me want to go back on my board."

"Well, enjoy the private beach, then, Mrs. Jackson. Call me if you need anything," she kindly said, as I walked her to the door.

"I will. Thanks, Astrid," I thanked her again, closing the door behind her.

The hotel service had been irreproachable throughout our stay. The employees made sure we didn't lack anything: they treated us like royalty here. No matter how long Michael and I had been together, I still had a hard time getting used to this. To me, Michael and I weren't special. We were just a couple of newlyweds enjoying their honeymoon in one of the most romantic place on the planet. Nothing more.

I didn't waste a minute to get rid of my bathrobe and headed to the beach with nothing but my bathing suit on. I took my surfboard that was planted in the sand under my arm, and ran into the warm water. A grin appeared on my face as I was swimming on my board towards the waves. When I was far enough and noticed a big one coming, I put myself in place and waited for it to push me towards the shore. I stood up and pushed my hair out of my face as I kept my feet steady on the board. These were the simple moments that reminded me that, even if I was married to the most popular person on this planet, I was still me, and I still got to do normal things. This was something Michael was scared of, that at some point, I would get too involved in his lifestyle and forget about mine. Truth was, it didn't scare me one bit, for I knew I would always manage to conceal both.

Time always flew by quickly whenever I was in the ocean. It is when I noticed this oh so recognizable silhouette on the beach that I decided to get out. I had no clue for how long I had been in there, and I didn't even realize how starving I was.

I put my hair back with one hand as the other one was supporting my board on my hip, and jogged towards my husband who was looking at me closely with his hands in his pockets as he was leaning against the vertical wooden beam.